This 99.8-mile journey from Saint Marys to Salina, Kansas, is a straightforward drive that typically takes about 1 hour and 37 minutes. It's an ideal day trip, allowing you to easily complete the drive and spend ample time at your destination. The route stays within the Great Plains region, offering a consistent landscape throughout. With an estimated fuel cost of around $15, this trip is quite budget-friendly. You'll mainly navigate local roads and segments of I-70 West, making for a generally uncomplicated travel experience.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
47.2 miles from Saint Marys, KS
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 59m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway
27.7 mi
27m
West Bertrand Avenue
27.1 mi
34m
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
22.2 mi
22m
Fort Riley Boulevard
14.3 mi
18m
North 9th Street
2.5 mi
5m
KS 18
0.3 mi
<1m
West Iron Avenue
<0.1 mi
<1m
South 8th Street
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway
— 27.7 mi, about 27m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Saint Marys, KS and Salina, KS.
Given the short duration of just under two hours, this drive is perfectly suited for a single day trip with no need to split it. You'll want to leave Saint Marys with a full tank of gas, as the estimated fuel cost is $15 and there are no designated stops mentioned. The 'turn-heavy' nature of the route means paying close attention to navigation, especially as you transition from local roads to I-70 West. Consider departing mid-morning to avoid any potential rush hour traffic in the smaller towns along the way.
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 47.2 miles from Saint Marys, KS, or about 59m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 27.7 miles.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 21 miles or 26m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 47.2 miles or 59m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 29m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Salina, KS than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Saint Marys, KS so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Saint Marys, KS
This is one driving day of about 94.3 miles and 1h 50m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 21 miles from Saint Marys, KS.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway for about 27.7 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 7
5 decision points cluster between mile 27.1 and 94.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
27.1 mi into trip|~34m in|KS 177 / Fort Riley Boulevard
Turn left onto KS 177 / Fort Riley Boulevard
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
5
41.4 mi into trip|~53m in|KS 18
Take the exit onto KS 18 toward I-70 West, Salina
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I-70 West, Salina
5
41.7 mi into trip|~53m in|I 70; US 40; KS 18 / Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway
Merge onto I 70; US 40; KS 18 / Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
4
91.5 mi into trip|~1h 43m in
Take the exit toward KS 143
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward KS 143
5
94.3 mi into trip|~1h 50m in|South 8th Street
Turn right onto South 8th Street
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$14.74 one way
$29.49 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg33 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$16.19
$32.37
premium
$4.89
$18.15
$36.29
diesel
$5.61
$20.82
$41.64
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$15
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$40–$65
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 33 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $10 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
28.3
0
$9.90
$4.53
Efficient EV
23.6
0
$8.25
$3.77
EV Truck/SUV
37.7
0
$13.20
$6.04
Gas CO2
33 kg
EV CO2
11 kg (67% less)
This trip is well within single-charge range for most EVs. No charging stops needed if you start fully charged.
DC fast charging avg $0.35/kWh. Home charging avg $0.16/kWh. US grid CO2: 0.39 kg/kWh.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026
Origin
Saint Marys, KS
Morning
in Saint Marys on Sunday
Local time
6:31 AM
CDT
Current temp
79°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Salina, KS
Morning
in Salina on Sunday
Local time
6:31 AM
CDT
Current temp
81°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
54°F
Ogden, KS
47 mi in
Seasonal Notes
Summer travel usually means heavier construction, hotter rest stops, and busier weekend traffic around major cities.
Winter travel shortens daylight, so a route that looks manageable on paper can feel much longer after dark.
Holiday weekends tend to make both departure and arrival windows slower than the raw route time suggests.
Time zone
Same local time
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
2 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
1h 50m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a 'turn-heavy' local drive for much of this route, with a 0% highway share overall. This means you'll be navigating through towns and on less direct roads rather than cruising on a continuous interstate. The absence of a longest uninterrupted stretch indicates frequent turns and changes in road type. While the primary roads are West Bertrand Avenue and Fort Riley Boulevard before merging onto I-70 West, the overall feel is less about open-road cruising and more about connected local travel.
Only 0% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
11 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 27.7 mi on Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
1/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes around 27.1 miles in near KS 177 / Fort Riley Boulevard.
Driving Effort1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Saint Marys, KS to Salina, KS is easy. At 1h 50m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 27.1 miles (KS 177 / Fort Riley Boulevard): Lane positioning matters here; at 41.4 miles (KS 18): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 41.7 miles (I 70; US 40; KS 18 / Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 50m. Total distance: 94.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
The longest stretch is about 27.7 miles on Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
The main spots that need attention: at 27.1 miles (KS 177 / Fort Riley Boulevard): Lane positioning matters here; at 41.4 miles (KS 18): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 41.7 miles (I 70; US 40; KS 18 / Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Salina, KS before heading back.
